Safety Stories Around Me 05------It’s Not Safe to Operate Valves with Your Feet

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Those who have worked in factories know that under normal circumstances, valves are operated by hand. However, since some valves are installed at low positions, some people might try to operate them with their feet, but doing so is extremely dangerous. It’s exactly twenty years since then; it was in December 1996, not long after I started working at the factory. That day we were on night shift; my supervisor went to inspect the tank area and didn’t return for a long time. I used a flashlight to search in that area, and next to Tank No. 13, which contained heavy contaminated oil, I found my supervisor sitting on the ground with one leg stretched out, his pants wet, and his body covered in dirt. I quickly asked what had happened, and the technician said that while on his inspection tour, he reached tank number 13 and wanted to remove water from it in order to prepare for oil transfer. Since there was some oil on the handle of the dehydration valve, he didn’t want to bend down; instead, he stood on the edge of the dehydration tank with his left foot, held onto the tank wall with his right hand, and used his right foot to operate the dehydration valve. As a result, my right foot slipped and I lost grip on the valve; my center of gravity shifted and I lost balance. One of my legs fell into the dehydrator tank, and the exhaust port of heater No. 13 in that tank also pressed against my leg, which must have caused severe burns. Fortunately, I managed to grab the valve with my hand when I slipped, so my head and face weren’t injured. There was no one around, and I had to struggle to climb out of the dehydrator tank by myself. However, I sprained a muscle in my thigh, which made it difficult for me to move, and I was unable to get in touch with us. I’m worried; it’s too dangerous! He rushed back to the control room and called for other colleagues to help take the master to the hospital. Actually, I know that quite a few people, including myself, often do this. The instructor also said that I do this frequently; it was just a coincidence this time, and I need to be more careful in the future. At that time, I thought the master was really unlucky. Now, I have been working for over twenty years and have received many safety education sessions and trainings. I can say with certainty that those who walk by the river often end up with wet shoes. Operating in violation of rules will inevitably lead to an accident sooner or later. Looking at this matter again, it can be seen that this method of operation poses many risks: some tank dehydrating tanks are quite large, and the handwheel of the dehydration valve is located too far away from the edge of the tank ； In some dehydration tanks, the cement on the edges has fallen off, resulting in an uneven surface; there is also a considerable amount of debris, wax, and dirty oil accumulated around the tank, making the surface slippery. All these are factors that pose risks. Additionally, operating the tank by stepping on it represents an abnormal posture for operation, which greatly increases the risk of falls. So, one must work carefully and pay attention to even the smallest details. It is important to raise employees’ awareness of personal safety, always keeping in mind the need to protect themselves from harm at work!